JP2001224553A - Imaging instrument for capusle endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized imaging instrument for capsule endoscope with small power consumption.

SOLUTION: This imaging device for capsule endoscope comprises a lighting means for lighting a subject part within a body cavity, an image sensor having a photoelectric converting means for photoelectrically converting the subject light to a signal charge and accumulating it and a scanning means for scanning and reading the accumulated signal charge, which outputs the image signal read by the scanning means, a signal processing means for processing the image signal, a transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the signal charge accumulated by the image sensor as image signal, and a power supplying means for supplying power, all of which means are provided within a sealed capsule. The device alternately repeats a lighting cycle of setting the power supply at least to the lighting means ON to accumulate the signal charge in the image sensor; and a transmitting cycle of setting the power supply to at least the scanning means of the image sensor, the signal processing means and the transmitting means ON to transmit the image signal.

COPYRIGHT: (C)2001,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is introduced into the body by imaging the body cavity, the image relates to an image pickup apparatus of the capsule endoscope wirelessly transmits the body.

[0002]

As BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION means for observing a body lumen, to a conventional endoscope which is connected to an external device with a long flexible tube, the purpose of alleviating such pain of the subject, an external device capsule endoscopy available without connections are proposed. Capsule endoscope is swallowing the endoscope of the capsule with a built-in image pickup device such as an image sensor and a transmitter in a subject, it is possible to wirelessly transmit the image of the object part from the body cavity. The capsule endoscope proceeds inside the body cavity of the subject by the gastrointestinal peristalsis of the subject, the number m in the speed 1 minute
Because it is about m, it takes several tens of hours after swallowing up inspection end released from the body.

[0003] The capsule endoscope, to provide sufficient power to drive for several tens of hours, the internal battery is increased in size, it is impossible to reduce the size of the capsule endoscope. When the battery small, it is not possible to observe up to the lower digestive tract to reach suffering long after swallowing.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based on the problem of the capsule endoscope, and an object thereof is to provide an imaging apparatus of low power consumption small capsule endoscope.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to capsule endoscope peristalsis very slow speed for moving the body cavity by, it has been made in view that it is also sufficient by observation with still images rather than video. That is, the imaging device of the capsule endoscope according to the present invention, the illumination means and for illuminating the object part in the body cavity; imaging the object part, and imaging means for outputting an image signal; an image signal wirelessly transmits transmission electric power supply means for supplying electric power; means and a provided in the sealed capsule, and lighting cycle for accumulating the signal charges to said image pickup means to turn on the power supply to at least said illuminating means, at least the imaging unit and transmitted It is characterized by repeating alternately; Turn on power supply to the unit and transmission cycle to transmit the image signal. It said imaging means includes a photoelectric conversion means for accumulating photoelectrically converts subject light into a signal charge, comprising a scanning means for reading and scanning the stored signal charges, an image sensor that outputs an image signal read by said scanning means;
Signal processing means for processing the image signal; can comprise.

[0006] In the imaging device of the capsule endoscope,
Corresponding to the object illuminance by the illumination means, the illumination cycle is capable of storing time for one field or one frame of the signal charges, the transmission cycle reads the image signal of one field or one frame it is preferable that the transmittable time. It is also practical when executing the transmission cycle and the illumination cycle once every second.

Further, the above illuminating means a light emitting diode, when the power is supplied to the transmitting unit off takes reverse voltage, when no power is supplied to the transmission means takes forward voltage placing to light, it is easy to save the power consumed by the lighting means. Alternatively, the scanning means, and the signal processing means and transmitting means may comprise switching means for the power supply to the illumination means.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Capsule endoscope 80 that houses the image pickup apparatus 10 in a sealed capsule as shown in Figure 4, is introduced into a body cavity subject is swallowed. Introduced the capsule endoscope 80,
The image of the body cavity surface which is illuminated with LED40 as the illumination means (object part), captured by the image sensor 21 formed by the imaging optical system L, and wirelessly transmits the image from the transmitting antenna 62.

[0009] shows a block diagram of an imaging apparatus 10 for the imaging and transmission in Figure 1. Imaging device 10 is composed of an image sensor unit 20 and the substrate 12 mounted with LED 40, a substrate 14 mounted with modulation unit 50 and the transmitting unit 60.
The image sensor unit 20 has an image sensor 21, is equipped with a video signal generation circuit 30. The image sensor 21
Is horizontal, vertical shift register (scan means) 22H, 2
Comprising a 2V and image area (photoelectric conversion means) 23, and photoelectrically converted to accumulate signal charges in the image area 23 subject light, the shift register 22H to signal charges, 22V
It is well known in the MOS type which outputs as a scanning image signal by. Video signal generating circuit 30, a sample hold circuit (S / H) 31, A / D converter 32, video processor 33 includes an encoder 34. Image signal output from the image sensor 21 is held by the sample-and-hold circuit 31 A / D converter 32
In converted A / D, it is processed a predetermined image signal by the video processor 33 and converted into a video signal of a predetermined method by the encoder 34.

[0010] substrate 12 further outputs a first oscillator 42, an inverter 44, a drive signal for driving the image sensor unit 20 on the basis of the signal output from the first oscillator 42 (scan read signal), the synchronization signal or the like sequentially and a timing generator (TG) 46 to. The inverter 44 is intended to turn on and off the power of the modulating unit 50 and transmitting unit 60 receives the signal from the timing generator 46, LED provided in the substrate 12 in accordance with this off
40 is turned off / lights. Power modulation section 50 and the transmitting unit 60 when on not lit for a reverse voltage is applied to the LED 40 (transmission cycle), the modulation unit 50 and the transmitting unit 60 is off is forward voltage LED 40 lit to (light cycle). That other when one is turned on among the LED40 or modulating unit 50 and transmission unit 60 is in a circuit arrangement to turn off.

[0011] Modulation unit 50 of the substrate 14, a modulator 51, a second oscillator 52 for outputting a carrier signal, and a multiplier 53. The modulator 51 the output of the encoder 34 is inputted, wherein the modulated signal and the carrier signal of the second oscillator 52 are multiplied by the multiplier 53. Transmitting portion 60 of the substrate 14 comprises a transmitter 61, a transmitting antenna 62, transmitting a signal from the modulation unit 50, via the transmitter 61 antenna 6
2 originating from.

[0012] FIG 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a power switching portion that turns on and off the power supply battery 70 of the capsule endoscope. When placed in a magnetic field by the reed switch 71 to open the contacts, the switching is performed in a non-contact, the capsule endoscope is watertight retained. Further, for example, in such case, not during transport or use, if housed capsule endoscope on its packaging or storage case provided with a magnet, the power can be turned off to. When reed switch 71 is turned on power is supplied, the image pickup device 10 by the timing generator 46 operates sequentially in a predetermined cycle.

[0013] Figure 3 shows a time chart for switching the lighting cycle transmission cycle. Light cycle and transmission cycle is switched by the synchronization signal to a timing generator 46 which receives the reference clock from the first oscillator 42 is sent. In light cycle (when optical storage), LED 40
Signal charges are accumulated in the image sensor 21 is emitted illumination light from. During this time the modulation unit 50 and the transmitting section 60 does not consume power because power off. In the transmission cycle (at the time of image reading transmission), a video signal generated by video signal generating circuit 30 is output from the image sensor 21 is sent to the modulator 50. The video signal is modulated by the modulation unit 50, and transmitted from the transmission antenna 62 through the transmitter 61. During this transmission cycle, LED40 is not turned on.

[0014] The following shows an example of calculation for determining the illumination cycle in the present embodiment (light accumulating time t1) and the transmission cycle (transmission time t2). 1) Condition illumination: Assuming LED luminous intensity (point light source): 3 [mcd] (M.
S. C. P) the distance from the illumination light to the subject: 10 mm in sensitivity of the imaging device imaging device 15 [lx] (F1.2) (For light accumulating time of 1/60 second) imaging optics aperture value: F8 Field since the frequency f _v = 60 Hz 2) of light accumulating time calculation illuminance = photometric / distance ^2, illuminance of the subject illuminance ^{= 3 × 10 -3 / (10} × 10 -3) 2 = 30 [lx] From the above conditions, the amount of light incident on the image pickup element is 0.3
Because it is [lx], the amount of incident light 15 which is normally required
To [lx], at 15 / 0.3 = 50, it is possible to image pickup by the proper exposure if there is about 50 times the storage time (accumulation of signal charges). Since the field frequency is 60 Hz, for one field scanning time (16.7 ms)
50-fold, i.e. at t1 = 16.7 [ms] × 50 = 833 light accumulating time of [ms], sufficient amount of light (signal charges) are obtained. 3) the amount of data after if 200 pixels × 200 pixels a pixel configuration all the pixels to 40k pixels, each pixel has a signal charge stored digital conversion (8bit decomposition) transmission time computation image area 23 becomes 320kbit . Transmission rate of 14 [Mbit
If / s], t2 = 320 [kbit] / 14 [Mbit / s] = about
Transmitted at 22.3 [ms] is completed. 4) From the above 1 screen configuration time, 1 is the time required to transmit to accumulate pixel signals of screen, t1 + t2 = 833 [ms] Tasu22.3 [ms] = 855.3 [ms], and the system By design, one screen configuration time is desirably to 1s.

[0015] In accordance with the above calculation example, by performing optical storage and transmission in the second period, since the movement of the capsule by the peristaltic motion in the body cavity of several mm per minute, it is also not sufficient that the image is greatly increased observation it is possible.

[0016] In the present embodiment has been set to one second period from the conditions, not limited to the above calculation example, for example, when using an image sensor 21 having different numbers of pixels long transmission cycle according to the number of pixels Alternatively or short, in the case of using a different LED40 luminosity is of course to be carried out for example, by adjusting the lighting cycle. Further, between the illumination cycles transmission cycle, or both provided power-off cycle, it executes the illumination cycle at a plurality of different illumination time or intensity (auto bracketing) It is also possible.

[0017]

As it is evident from the foregoing description, according to the imaging device of the capsule endoscope of the present invention, consumption by performing darken the illumination by increasing the storage time of the signal charges, further power supply to each portion alternately since possible to reduce the power, the battery can be reduced, long drive capsule endoscope in a small can be realized. The illumination lamp is dark, it is possible to avoid troubles due to heat generation, safety capsule endoscope to the human body can be realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[1] of the image pickup apparatus of the endoscope according to the present invention, it is a block diagram showing an outline of the circuit configuration.

[Figure 2] of the image pickup apparatus of the present capsule endoscope is a circuit diagram showing a power switch portion.

3 is a time chart showing the switching of the lighting cycle and the transmission cycle.

4 is a sectional view showing the applied capsule endoscope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

10 the imaging apparatus 12 14 substrate 20 image sensor unit 21 image sensor 22H horizontal shift register (scan means) 22V vertical shift register 23 the image area (photoelectric conversion means) 30 a video signal generating circuit 31 sample-and-hold circuit (S / H) 32 A / D converter 33 the video processor 34 encoder 40 LED 42 first oscillator 44 inverter 46 a timing generator (TG) 50 modulating section 51 modulator 52 second oscillator 53 multiplier 60 transmission unit 61 transmitter 62 transmitting antenna 70 battery 71 reed switch 80 capsules endoscopes L imaging optical system t1 light accumulating time t2 transmission time

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── of the front page continued (72) inventor Ichiro Ninomiya Itabashi-ku, Tokyo cortex-cho 2-chome No. 36 No. 9 rays of the rising sun chemical industry Co., Ltd. in the (72) inventor Tetsuya Nakamura Itabashi-ku, Tokyo cortex-cho 2-chome 36 No. 9 No. rays of the rising sun chemical industry Co., Ltd. in the (72) inventor Masahiro Fushimi Itabashi-ku, Tokyo cortex-cho 2-chome No. 36 No. 9 rays of the rising sun chemical industry Co., Ltd. in the (72) inventor Masaru Eguchi Itabashi-ku, Tokyo cortex-cho 2-chome 36 No. 9 No. rays of the rising sun chemical industry Co., Ltd. in the (72) inventor Kenichi Ohara Itabashi-ku, Tokyo cortex-cho 2-chome No. 36 No. 9 rays of the rising sun chemical industry Co., Ltd. in the F-term (reference) 4C061 BB01 CC06 DD10 GG22 JJ06 PP04 QQ06 RR03 UU06

Claims (6)

[The claims]
1. 1. A illuminating means for illuminating the object part in the body cavity;
   Imaging the object part, and imaging means for outputting an image signal; an image signal transmitting means for wireless transmission; and a power supply means for supplying power; provided into the sealed capsule, at least power supply to the illumination means the turn on and light cycle to accumulate the signal charges in the image pickup means; and wherein alternately repeating, at least turn on the power supply to the imaging means and the transmitting means and the transmission cycle for transmitting the image signal imaging device the capsule endoscope.
2. Wherein an illumination means for illuminating the object part in the body cavity;
   Processing the image signal; comprising photoelectric conversion means for photoelectrically converting accumulate object light into a signal charge, a scanning means for reading and scanning the stored signal charges, an image sensor and which outputs an image signal read by said scanning means a signal processing unit; transmitting means and that said image sensor and wirelessly transmits the accumulated signal charges as an image signal; power supply means for supplying power and; provided in a sealed capsule, on the power supply to at least said illuminating means to, the scanning means of the image sensor, the signal processing means and the power supply to the transmission means by turning off the light cycle to accumulate the signal charges in the image sensor, at least the scanning means of the image sensor, the signal processing means and transmitting means Turn on the power supply to, to transmit the image signal to turn off the power supply to the illumination means Imaging device of the capsule endoscope characterized by repeating alternately; and transmission cycle.
3. 3. A imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 capsule endoscope according, to correspond to the object illuminance at a predetermined distance by the illumination means, the illumination cycle of one field or one frame of the signal charges accumulating a proper exposure time available, the transmission cycle is the imaging device of the capsule endoscope is transmittable time reads the image signal of one field or one frame.
4. 4. A imaging device of the capsule endoscope according to claim 1 to 3 any one, the imaging device of the capsule endoscope to perform once the transmission cycle and the illumination cycles per second.
5. 5. The imaging device of the capsule endoscope according to any one of claims 1-4, the said illumination means comprising a light emitting diode, when the power is supplied to the transmission means takes the reverse voltage extinguished, the imaging device of the capsule endoscope, which is arranged to light up takes forward voltage when no power is supplied to the transmitting means.
6. The imaging apparatus wherein the capsule endoscope according to any one of claims 1 5, comprising the scanning means and the signal processing means and transmitting means, the switching means of the power supply to the illumination means Capsule imaging device of the endoscope.